Abstract

In recent decades, the quality of  life in Australia has been undermined by preoccupation with material prosperity and neglect of broader concerns. Professor Langmore proposes an alternative vision for his country that prioritises the commonweal and a national contribution to global peace and justice.  He makes a strong case for renewing multilateral engagement, a rules based international order, and a preference for peaceful conflict resolution.  The former UN Director argues for active study, research and consultations to improve the United Nations, upgrading programs for political and economic development, tackling injustice, poverty, political repression, and exclusion that causes grievances.  Australia should commit itself to the MDGs (for its own indigenous people and impoverished sections of the population), raise its overseas aid (from .25% to .7%), consider air travel, carbon, or currency transaction taxes, reform the governance structures of the international finance institutions, and upgrade ECOSOC.
Australia is the worldest 14th largest economy, has punched above its weight in the UN in the past, and could hold independent  positions from the United States.  Langmore is concerned about the non proliferation regime and the nuclear test ban and supports the Blix Commission of Weapons of Mass Destruction recommendations and a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.

He makes specific proposals with regard to Climate Change (time deadlines for reducing emissions), Australian education, health, and work policies, justice for Aborgines,  reinvigorated multiculturalism for migrants, increased dialogue and consultative engagement with citizen groups, while supporting research and education.  He argues against wasteful spending on irrelevant weapons system,  ineffective measures to protect against exaggerated terrorist threats, expensive detention centres for asylum seekers while providing allowances to corporations and the rich.  Professor Langmore wishes for a new foreign policy which aims at international cooperatgion and a paradigm shift towards humanity security, community action and hope.

The Government has changed in Australia, since he wrote the book for the Australian Collaboration – a grouping of the major NGO councils. In March, he co-hosted a Colloquium under the auspices of ACUNS on “Re-engaging with the United Nations”. 

The Rudd government has already asked his advice on a number of issues.

The book is therefore highly timely but not only in Australia.  Many other countries could benefit from his advice on changing the course from  failed neo-liberalism

Purchasing Information

This publication is available from the University of New South Wales Press and from Amazon (ISBN 978 086840 847 7). To purchase this publication please click here.